§ Mr. JamiesonTo ask the President of the Board of Trade what financial assistance was given by his Department to Walker Wingsail Systems plc, Plymouth, before 1988. [2303]
§ Mr. PageMy Department provided £207,500 in financial assistance to Walker Wingsail Systems Ltd. of Hamble, Hampshire under the support for innovation scheme before 1988, prior to the company's move to Plymouth.
§ Mr. JamiesonTo ask the President of the Board of Trade what monitoring has taken place of the grants made by his Department to Walker Wingsail Systems plc, Plymouth. [2302]
§ Mr. PageGrants made to Walker Wingsail Systems Ltd. under the support for innovation scheme were monitored at each payment stage, to ensure that payments were in accordance with the approved project. In the case of financial assistance under the enterprise initiative consultancy scheme, payment of a proportion of the cost of consultancy advice provided to the company was made by my Department to the consultants via the external contractors appointed as SFI scheme managers. The company itself paid the balance. The contractors monitored the performance and quality of the consultants' work before agreeing to the payment.